Damn You, Bill Clinton!

Damn you Bill Clinton! If you just coulda kept it in your pants for a few years we might not be where we are; with this totally dysfunctional government. The damage that you have caused is probably beyond repair in our lifetime. -------- Boy am I glad to have that off my chest!

Last weekend I was at a town hall meeting with my Congressman, Rick Larsen (D WA-2). During the Q&A he was asked if he would support impeachment hearings against George W. Bush. The short answer was “No” but in his explanation it became clear why this, as with all things in government over the past six years, it is Bill Clinton’s fault. Larsen said that he felt that the bar for impeachment should be set extremely high and that, while he felt the Republicans had lowered the bar significantly for the Clinton impeachment, he believed that impeaching Bush would only make the Democrats (paraphrasing) ‘appear to be seeking revenge and not justice and, therefore, simply returning the favor.’

Then, this morning, I am checking out the Seattle Times and find this from Times columnist Danny Westneat:

”Impeach Bush? Don't bother” – “…I'm with the "cowards" on this one. I'm with them because I was there in Congress covering the last impeachment for The Seattle Times. I saw the atmosphere become so hostile that Republicans and Democrats wouldn't even get on elevators together, let alone cooperate to do anything important.
Regardless of whether Clinton deserved to be impeached for lying under oath about an affair, there's no question the proceedings turned Congress into a dysfunctional mess…” He adds, ”Obviously, the war is vastly more important than Clinton's sex life. It should be investigated,…” but then, like Larsen, and even Jay Inslee (D WA-1), whom Westneat’s column is attempting to insulate from his more Progressive constituency because of his recent high profile anti-impeachment stance, he stops short of impeachment by concluding, ”But as with Clinton, it would likely cripple the very institution that, for better or worse, we're relying on to get us out of a war. It just isn't worth it.”

So there you are. Damn you Bill Clinton! Because you were impeached for sex, Bush walks free for lying to Congress, illegal wiretapping of American citizens, violations of international laws against torture and kidnapping – all of this while ordering thousands to their deaths in a “war of choice.”

It does make one wonder, however, what do you do if you actually discover something at the end of your investigation? I mean, think about it. All of these folks are saying we should ‘investigate the hell out of these guys’ but we should stop short of impeachment because THAT would “cripple the institution.” So that would suggest that they are saying our elected representatives should spend countless hours and untold amounts of our tax dollars conducting investigations that, even if they lead to wrongdoing, will be filed in the archives for future generations to review just in case they ever come up with a question of what constitutes “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Look, there is not a louder anti-war voice out here than mine. I am livid that, after four years, the Democrats still cannot (will not) come together to demand an end to this tragedy. I still think they should be expected to do more than one thing at a time. Westneat remembers the gridlock in Congress during the Clinton impeachment. He seems to forget that the newly elected Republican majority in Congress, beginning with the House take-over in 1994, had instituted a policy of gridlock as a means to their ends of strangling government. The Clinton impeachment was just a side-show of distraction for the media. If a Democratic majority in Congress is not capable of performing all of their constitutional duties, then we are doomed before we start.

In the matter of impeachment there is only one standard that must be met. Because the Republicans did not come close to honoring that standard with the Clinton impeachment, it does not forgive this congress or any future congress from their obligation to the Constitution and the American people to measure every president against that standard. That standard? Has the president committed high crimes or misdemeanors resulting in significant harm to the country? So, to those such as Rick Larsen, Jay Inslee, Patty Murray, and any other elected Democrats who would call for “investigations to nowhere”, I would remind you of this treasured cliché’: Two wrongs don’t make a right. F ailing to act because the Republicans failed in their action not only sets an even more onerous precedent but, I believe it violates your oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 02/26/07
Americans Killed: 3155
Americans Wounded: 23,677
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:


*Sgt. Shawn M. Dunkin, 25, of Columbia, SC died Feb. 19 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Matthew C. Bowe, 19, of Coraopolis, PA died Feb. 19 in Baghdad, Iraq.

* Pfc. Adare W. Cleveland, 19, of Anchorage, AK died Feb. 19 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Christopher K. Boone, 34, of Augusta, GA died Feb. 17 in Balad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Richard L. Ford, 40, of East Hartford, CT died Feb. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. David R. Berry, 37, of Wichita, KN died Feb. 22 in Qasim, Iraq.

*Spc. Louis G. Kim, 19, of West Covina, CA died Feb. 20 in Ramadi, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Hager, 29, of Broomfield, CO died Feb. 23 of injuries suffered in Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 22.

*Pfc. Travis W. Buford, 23, of Galveston, TX died Feb. 23 of injuries suffered in Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 22.

*Pfc. Rowan D. Walter, 25, of Winnetka, CA died Feb. 23 of injuries suffered in Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 22.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Blue Dogs - Barking Up The Wrong Tree

With yet another nod to David Sirota we are left to ask how much longer some Democrats are going to squander American and Iraqi lives while they continue to hide behind the words “Support the Troops?”

Sirota directs us to today’s Washington Post article entitled ”Murtha Stumbles on Iraq Funding Curbs.” The article’s authors, Jonathan Weisman and Lyndsey Layton, suggest that, without seeing the entire text of a proposal from Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), certain Democrats are falling all over themselves in declaring the proposed amendment to the upcoming Iraq supplemental spending bill, “…a non-starter, an absolute non-starter..."

What do we know about Murtha’s proposal? In a February 15th video interview on MoveCongress.org Murtha says he wants to craft language that would require that, ”To be sent to battle, troops would have to have had a year's rest between combat tours. Soldiers in Iraq could not have their tours extended beyond a year there. And the Pentagon's "stop-loss" policy, which prevents some officers from leaving the military when their service obligations are up, would end. Troops would have to be trained in counterinsurgency and urban warfare and be sent overseas with the equipment they used in training.” According to Congressman Murtha, this would have an immediate impact on the numbers of troops, George Bush could deploy to Iraq in support of his so-called surge. In fact, it would almost certainly stop it in its tracks. So where is this Democratic ‘non-starter’ talk coming from?

According to the Post,

”It (The release of Murtha’s web interview)came the day before the House voted on a nonbinding resolution opposing Bush's additional troop deployments that Democratic leaders had been touting as a major rebuke. Murtha dismissed that vote as he promoted his coming plans regarding the war spending bill. "This vote will be the most important vote in changing the direction on this war," he said of his proposal. "This vote will limit the options of the president and should stop the surge."
To many Democrats, that was not only impolitic, it was disloyal.
"He stepped all over Speaker Pelosi's message of support for the troops," said Rep. Jim Cooper (Tenn.). "That was not team play, to put it mildly."”

Excuse me? Murtha says you cannot send unrested, untrained, and ilequipped troops into battle and that somehow steps on a “Support the Troops Message?” While the article points out that Congress has been on recess since Murtha’s interview and the House vote and it suggests that much of what has been said has been as filler for the void in actual Democratic talking points, I can’t help but believe that Rep. Cooper and the rest of his friends over at the conservative “Blue Dog Democrats Coalition” just don’t have a clue about what true “team play” and “Support the Troops” look or sound like. According to the article,

”"While we're all for troop readiness, we're all for them having all the equipment they want," (Rep. Jim)Matheson, the Utah Democrat, said, "I'd be very concerned about doing anything that would hamstring resources and commanders on the ground."
Indeed, Matheson and other Blue Dogs said the Democrats should concentrate on oversight hearings on Iraq policy, while refraining from binding legislation on the war.”

So for all the talk about a 97 word non-binding resolution being a “first step” apparently the larger question is, do we have a shared destination in mind? For the sake of our troops and the Iraqi people, I hope so.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 02/22/07
Americans Killed: 3150
Americans Wounded: 23,530
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:


*Sgt. 1st Class William C. Spillers, 39, of Terry, MS died Feb. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Chad E. Marsh, 20, of Wichita, KS died Feb. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Justin T. Paton, 24, of Alanson, MI died Feb. 17 in Taramia, Iraq.

*Sgt. Matthew S. Apuan, 27, of Las Cruces, NM died Feb. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Pedro J. Colon, 25, of Cicero, IL died Feb. 19 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Montrel S. Mcarn, 21, of Raeford, NC died Feb. 19 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Capt. Todd M. Siebert, 34, of Baden, PA died Feb. 16 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Brian A. Escalante, 25, of Dodge City, KS died Feb. 17 in Al Anbar
province, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Blake H. Howey, 20, of Glendora, CA died Feb. 18 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Pfc. Brett A. Witteveen, 20, of Shelby, MI died Feb. 19 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Clinton W. Ahlquist, 23, of Creede, CO died Feb. 20 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Pvt. Kelly D. Youngblood, 19, of Mesa, AZ died Feb. 18 in Ramadi, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

On The Liberation of Iraqi Women

From “River” over at Baghdad Burning comes this chilling account of one Iraqi woman’s charge of rape against the very forces that are supposed to be working to calm the sectarian violence that is tearing that country apart:

”As I write this, Oprah is on Channel 4 (one of the MBC channels we get on Nilesat), showing Americans how to get out of debt. Her guest speaker is telling a studio full of American women who seem to have over-shopped that they could probably do with fewer designer products. As they talk about increasing incomes and fortunes, Sabrine Al-Janabi, a young Iraqi woman, is on Al Jazeera telling how Iraqi security forces abducted her from her home and raped her. You can only see her eyes, her voice is hoarse and it keeps breaking as she speaks. In the end she tells the reporter that she can’t talk about it anymore and she covers her eyes with shame.

She might just be the bravest Iraqi woman ever. Everyone knows American forces and Iraqi security forces are raping women (and men), but this is possibly the first woman who publicly comes out and tells about it using her actual name. Hearing her tell her story physically makes my heart ache. Some people will call her a liar. Others (including pro-war Iraqis) will call her a prostitute- shame on you in advance.”

River then goes on to translate the woman’s story as she tells it to the reporter from Al Jazeera:

”They abducted her from her house in an area in southern Baghdad called Hai Al Amil. No- it wasn’t a gang. It was Iraqi peace keeping or security forces- the ones trained by Americans? You know them. She was brutally gang-raped and is now telling the story. Half her face is covered for security reasons or reasons of privacy. I translated what she said below.

“I told him, ‘I don’t have anything [I did not do anything].’ He said, 'You don’t have anything?’ One of them threw me on the ground and my head hit the tiles. He did what he did- I mean he raped me. The second one came and raped me. The third one also raped me. [Pause- sobbing] I begged them and cried, and one of them covered my mouth. [Unclear, crying] Another one of them came and said, 'Are you finished? We also want our turn.' So they answered, ‘No, an American committee came.’ They took me to the judge.

Anchorwoman: Sabrine Al Janabi said that one of the security forces videotaped/photographed her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the rape. Another officer raped her after she saw the investigative judge.

Sabrine continuing:
“One of them, he said… I told him, ‘Please- by your father and mother- let me go.’ He said, ‘No, no- by my mother’s soul I’ll let you go- but on one condition, you give me one single thing.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘[I want] to rape you.’ I told him, ‘No- I can’t.’ So he took me to a room with a weapon… It had a weapon, a Klashnikov, a small bed [Unclear], he sat me on it. So [the officer came] and told him, ‘Leave her to me.’ I swore to him on the Quran, I told him, ‘By the light of the Prophet I don’t do such things…’ He said, ‘You don’t do such things?’ I said, ‘Yes’.

[Crying] He picked up a black hose, like a pipe. He hit me on the thigh. [Crying] I told him, ‘What do you want from me? Do you want me to tell you rape me? But I can’t… I’m not one of those ***** [Prostitutes] I don’t do such things.’ So he said to me, ‘We take what we want and what we don’t want we kill. That’s that.’ [Sobbing] I can’t anymore… please, I can’t finish.”

River posted this diary, according to the time stamp on her Blog, at 1:09 AM. By 3:59PM the same day, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki had dismissed the woman’s charges of rape and even called for the accused officers to be “rewarded.”

According to a report published by the BBC, "Rape claim splits Iraq government", ”Mr. Maliki ordered an investigation into the case on Monday night, but cleared the three men hours later.” The report goes on to say, ”"Medical examinations showed the woman had not been subjected to any sexual attack," a government statement said.
"The prime minister has ordered that the honourable officers accused be rewarded," it added without elaborating.”

The medical examinations referred to in the government statement were apparently conducted in a field hospital supervised by American medical personnel. A follow-up article from the BBC that addresses the firing of a prominent Sunni official in the Maliki cabinet who has openly criticized Maliki’s handling of this situation, reports, ” Moving to quash disquiet in his mixed government, Nouri Maliki, who is Shia, also released a copy of a US medical report saying no rape had taken place.” “The document issued on Wednesday is a "theatre trauma nursing record" from Ibn Sina Hospital, located in Baghdad's international Green Zone and run by the US military.
The handwritten report says in English and Arabic that there were "no vaginal lacerations or obvious injuries". The patient's name is blanked out.
The 20-year-old woman, who made the allegation in an emotional interview with the Arabic TV network al-Jazeera, has not been identified.”

However the report goes on to say, ” The New York Times reported that a nurse, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she had treated the woman at a clinic in her neighbourhood of Amil and had seen signs of sexual and physical assault.
US military officials have neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the document. They added that they did not know how confidential medical records had ended up at the prime minister's offices.”

In her 3:59PM entry on the subject, River offers this perspective:

” No one would lie about something like this simply to undermine the Baghdad security operation. That can be done simply by calculating the dozens of dead this last week. Or by writing about the mass detentions of innocents, or how people are once again burying their valuables so that Iraqi and American troops don't steal them.

It was less than 14 hours between Sabrine's claims and Maliki's rewarding the people she accused. In 14 hours, Maliki not only established their innocence, but turned them into his own personal heroes. I wonder if Maliki would entrust the safety his own wife and daughter to these men.

This is meant to discourage other prisoners, especially women, from coming forward and making claims against Iraqi and American forces. Maliki is the stupidest man alive (well, after Bush of course…) if he believes his arrogance and callous handling of the situation will work to dismiss it from the minds of Iraqis. By doing what he is doing, he's making it more clear than ever that under his rule, under his government, vigilante justice is the only way to go. Why leave it to the security forces and police? Simply hire a militia or gang to get revenge. If he doesn't get some justice for her, her tribe will be forced to... And the Janabat (the Al Janabis) are a force to be reckoned with.
Maliki could at least pretend the rape of a young Iraqi woman is still an outrage in today’s Iraq... “

Meanwhile, in an unrelated(?) story:

” FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Feb. 21, 2007
By KRISTIN M. HALL Associated Press Writer
________________________________________
(AP) A second U.S. soldier has pleaded guilty to the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the slaying of her family, saying he held the girl down and acted as a lookout while others took turns attacking her.

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, pleaded guilty Tuesday to four murders, rape and conspiracy to rape. The judge, Col. Stephen R. Henley, adjourned the case until Wednesday to consider the plea.

In the plea agreement read in court Tuesday, Cortez said he conspired with three other soldiers _ Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, Spc. James P. Barker and Steven D. Green, who has been discharged _ to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi………..”

[UPDATE - 2/24/07]

From the Concord Monitor comes the following related story:

By Ernesto Londono
The Washington Post

February 23. 2007 8:00AM



"An Iraqi police official in the northeastern city of Tal Afar said yesterday that a military officer and three soldiers had admitted to raping a Sunni woman and recording the act with a cell phone camera.

The four soldiers told an investigative committee convened by the Iraqi Army that they sexually assaulted the woman nearly two weeks ago, according to Gen. Najem Abdullah, an Iraqi police spokesman in Tal Afar.

The soldiers' admission follows another Sunni woman's assertion this week that she had been raped in Baghdad by members of Iraq's predominately Shiite security forces. Iraq's Kurdish president and its Sunni vice president said yesterday that a judge should investigate her case, which the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has dismissed as groundless."

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 02/19/07
Americans Killed: 3140
Americans Wounded: 23,530
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:


*Pfc. Tarryl B. Hill, 19, of Shelby Township, Mich., died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Pvt. Clarence T. Spencer, 24, of San Diego, CA died Feb. 4 in Balad, Iraq.

*Spc. Dennis L. Sellen Jr., 20, of Newhall, CA died Feb. 11 in Umm Qasr, Iraq.

*Pfc. Brian A. Browning, 20, of Astoria, OR died Feb. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Nickolas A. Tanton, 24, of San Antonio TX died Feb. 13 in Kirkuk, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Morris, 19, of Crimora, VA died Feb. 14 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. First Class Allen Mosteiro, 42, of Fort Worth, TX died Feb. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Branden C. Cummings, 20, of Titusville, Fla., died Feb. 14 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Sgt. John D. Rode, 24, of Pineville, NC died Feb. 14 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Sgt. Carl L. Seigart, 32, San Luis Obispo, CA died Feb. 14 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Spc. Ronnie G. Madore Jr., 34, of San Diego, CA died Feb. 14 in Baqubah, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

"I know you are but what am I?"

U.S. Claims Iran Is Arming Iraq Militias

"BAGHDAD, Iraq Feb 11, 2007 (AP)— U.S. military officials on Sunday accused the highest levels of the Iranian leadership of arming Shiite militants in Iraq with sophisticated armor-piercing roadside bombs that have killed more than 170 American forces."

Iran alleges U.S. involvement in deadly attack

"5:54 PM PST, February 18, 2007 TEHRAN, Iran -- Bullet cartridges bearing a U.S. insignia and English lettering were among the weaponry seized last week from Sunni militants suspected of killing 11 members of Shiite-dominated Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Iranian officials said Sunday."

"Senate Intelligence Committee member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said "the administration is engaged in a drumbeat with Iran that is much like the drumbeat that they did with Iraq. We're going to insist on accountability.""

Good luck with that, Senator.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Jay Inslee - Designated Driver

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 02/13/07
Americans Killed: 3125
Americans Wounded: 23,417
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:


*Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Van Parys, 20, of New Tripoli, PA died Feb. 5 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Joshua J. Frazier, 24, of Spotsylvania, VA died Feb. 6 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Cpl. Jennifer M. Parcell, 20, of Bel Air, MD died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Petty Officer 1st Class Gilbert Minjares Jr., 31, of El Paso, TX died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Petty Officer 3rd Class Manuel A. Ruiz, 21, of Federalsburg, MD died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Maj. Joseph J. Ellis, 40, of Ashland, OH died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Capt. Jennifer J. Harris, 28, of Swampscott, MA died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*1st Lt. Jared M. Landaker, 25, of Big Bear City, CA died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Travis D. Pfister, 27, of Richland, WA (65th Washingtonian) died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Cpl. Thomas E. Saba, 30, of Toms River, NJ died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. James R. Tijerina, 26, of Beasley, TX died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. James J. Regan, 26, of Manhasset, NY died Feb. 9 in northern Iraq.

*Sgt. Russell A. Kurtz, 22, of Bethel Park, PA died Feb. 11 in Fallajah, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Alan W. Shaw, 31, of Little Rock, AK died Feb. 9 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Eric Ross, 26, of Kenduskeag, ME died Feb. 9 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Spc. Leeroy A. Camacho, 28, of Saipan, Mariana Islands died Feb. 9 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Sgt. James J. Holtom, 22, of Rexburg, ID died Feb. 8 in Karmah, Iraq.

*Spc. Ross A. Clevenger, 21, of Givens Hot Springs, ID died Feb. 8 in Karmah, Iraq.

*Pvt. Raymond M. Werner, 21, of Boise, ID died Feb. 8 in Karmah, Iraq.

*Capt. Donnie R. Belser Jr., 28, of Anniston, AL died Feb. 10 in Baqubah, Iraq.

*Sgt. Robert B. Thrasher, 23, of Folsom, CA died Feb. 11 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Matthew P. Pathenos, 21, of Ballwin, MO died Feb. 7 in Al Anbar
province, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

And the Beat Goes On

Thanks to the folks at Crooks and Liars dot com for this heads up on a story in the New York Times (Free subscription may be required) on one of the methods being employed to continue the marriage of politicians and lobbyists. As we have been told more than a few times now, the new Democratic majority chose “lobby reform” as one of their priorities in their first 100 hours. Well, as this story reminds us, one person’s reform is another person’s reward.

It seems that the “reform” in question has to do with the new restrictions on a lobbyist’s ability to pick up the tab for meals, trips, or social events for legislators. How does the “reform” work? According to the article by David Kirkpatrick of the NY Times:

”The 110th Congress opened with the passage of new rules intended to curb the influence of lobbyists by prohibiting them from treating lawmakers to meals, trips, stadium box seats or the discounted use of private jets.
But it did not take long for lawmakers to find ways to keep having lobbyist-financed fun.
In just the last two months, lawmakers invited lobbyists to help pay for a catalog of outings: lavish birthday parties in a lawmaker’s honor ($1,000 a lobbyist), martinis and margaritas at Washington restaurants (at least $1,000), a California wine-tasting tour (all donors welcome), hunting and fishing trips (typically $5,000), weekend golf tournaments ($2,500 and up), a Presidents’ Day weekend at Disney World ($5,000), parties in South Beach in Miami ($5,000), concerts by the Who or Bob Seger ($2,500 for two seats), and even Broadway shows like “Mary Poppins” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” (also $2,500 for two).

The lobbyists and their employers typically end up paying for the events, but within the new rules.

Instead of picking up the lawmaker’s tab, lobbyists pay a political fund-raising committee set up by the lawmaker. In turn, the committee pays the legislator’s way.”

The piece comes with a list of specific events and legislators who are taking full advantage of this “reform”. A couple of examples:

Montana Democratic Senator, Max Baucus’ PAC is hosting skiing/snomobiling in February or golfing/fly fishing in the summer for a $5000 contribution.

Florida Democratic Senator, Bill Nelson’s PAC offered a Super Bowl party in Miami for a $5000 contribution.

Florida Republican Senator, Mel Martinez’s PAC is offering a President’s Day Weekend at Disney World for a $5000 contribution.

California Republican Congresswoman, Mary Bono’s (widow of Sonny) PAC is offering two tickets to a Who concert for $2500.

Finally, as if to poke a couple of fingers in the eyes of those who might see this “new” practice as a bit questionable South Carolina Republican Senator, Lindsay Graham offers this:

” Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who sometimes invites lobbyists to join him for fund-raising hunting trips, called such events an innocuous fact of life.
“If you are not going to have publicly financed elections and you are getting your support from private individuals — which I believe in — I don’t see any problem with having events where private individuals who give you money can talk to you,” said Mr. Graham, who like the other senators quoted in this article voted for the ethics reform…””

And the beat goes on, yes the beat goes on......

[UPDATE] I just caught this from David Postman on yesterday's exchange between Democrat Steny Hoyer and Republican John Boehner over this story when Tim Russert brought it up on "Meet the Press."

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

On the Trial of Scooter Libby

On the Trial of Scooter Libby

Scapegoat. Fall guy.

Scooter Libby is George Bush’s Lt. William Calley.

In January, 1968, Charlie Company killed some 500 old men, women, children and babies in the so-called My Lai massacre. Despite an attempted cover-up, the army eventually indicted 26 officers and soldiers for their rolls in the massacre. In the end, Lt. Calley was the only one convicted. Calley was given life in prison for killing 22 civilians, but his sentence was later reduced to 20 years and then 10 years. He actually served about 3 ½ years of house arrest at Ft. Benning, GA. This seemed to satisfy our national need to hold someone accountable.

In July, 2003, Valerie Plame Wilson’s identity as a covert CIA operative was revealed as the result of information leaked from the highest levels of White House. Evidence suggests this may have been a deliberate attempt to discredit her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson, and that both George Bush and Dick Cheney may have been involved, as well as Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and others.

As more and more Americans became aware of the leaking of Plame’s identity to a White House friendly pundit, the outrage grew. It became obvious, even to this arrogant administration, that someone would have to be “held accountable.” Enter Patrick Fitzgerald, an apparent darling of the mainstream media, repeatedly lauded as a hard-nosed prosecutor and a man of unquestioned integrity. Despite the praise heaped upon his head, imagine our surprise and disappointment when the best he could do was indict a staffer, Scooter Libby, for lying to the grand jury.

My expectation is that Libby will be convicted of perjury, the conviction will be appealed for years to come and he will ultimately serve no jail time at all. But the conviction will satisfy our national need to hold someone accountable.

When we have a White House that has little, if any, regard for the Constitution, it is a shocking betrayal of the American people that the real traitors will remain scot-free and in control of our government. It is obvious to all who care about this nation that this administration is still in the process of taking over the judiciary and will continue to manipulate any “trial” which involves a crony.

“. . . and justice for all.” Right!

(Note: Phyllis inspired and contributed to this post.)

Patty Murray Through Bi-Coastal Lenses

A few days ago, Noemie Maxwell, over at Washblog, posted a story entitled ”Democrats and the catastrophic failure of the Iraq war” It didn’t take long to see that the singular villian of the piece was Senator Patty Murray. Even though Murray voted against the initial resolution that authorized George Bush to take this country into Iraq, since then, she has been seen by some at home as simply another “go along to get along” Democrat on funding the continuing occupation and less than vocal on ending our military activity there.

In the comments to Noemie’s post is a reference to a recent speech Sen. Murray gave on the floor of the Senate to denounce the planned “surge” of troops into Iraq and the Republican tactics of delaying debate on the non-binding Warner-Levin Resolution (the one that says to Bush, ‘We don’t plan to stop you but we sure don’t like it.’) Obviously the speech wasn’t very impressive to some of my fellow Washbloggers.(Full Disclosure: While I am a Contributing Editor to Washblog I have not commented to this particualr post) Noemie says of the speech in her initial post, ”Well, Senator Murray, a partisan denunciation for the blocking (of) a meaningless resolution is not good enough. In fact, it looks to me like political cover for your failure to take meaningful action.” And from DWE we have the following:

”It's (Murray’s speech) consistent with one aide told me when I called on January 26th. The aide said that Senate Democrats want to take it "slow." They want to hold hearings and get the facts and so on. Here are some selections:

(PM) ”And again today - President Bush wants to send more Americans into battle without a clear mission, without equipment, without an endgame and without explaining the cost. And once again, I say - not on my watch.”

What does she mean, "Not on my watch?" How, pray tell, does she intend to stop the escalation with tepid rhetoric and nonbinding resolutions?

(PM) ”We need a new direction, Mr. President - not more Americans in the middle of a civil war. I will vote for a bipartisan resolution to send a clear message that we oppose the surge. It is the first step in demanding a new direction in Iraq.”

How does voting for a watered-down resolution send a clear message to Bush? Since when does he receive "clear messages?" She speaks as if Bush were a normal sane person who needed a "clear message." I'm sorry, but you don't reason with crazy people.

(PM) ”I am looking at every resolution and every proposal. And I'm looking forward to having hearings, getting the facts, and moving forward in a bipartisan way.”

That, apparently, is the center of her Iraq strategy. Look, listen, gather facts, deal with Republicans. It's the slow approach, as described by her aide. Where is her sense of urgency? Where is her sense of outrage? How many more facts does she need to draw a conclusion about Iraq?”

Then, this morning, I read from Alicia Mundy, Seattle Times’ Washington DC Columnist, about how Murray’s speech has seemingly repositioned her as a leading Democratic voice on the Iraq issue with her colleagues in the other Washington. In her column, ”On war, Murray’s voice is heard over others”, Mundy says, ”There was a time when the fiercest anti-war voice in the delegation belonged to Rep. Jim McDermott, Seattle's favorite liberal Democrat. But these days, Sen. Patty Murray is center stage.”

Apparently Senator Murray, after receiving a copy of the Congressional Budget Office’s report suggesting that, either the “surge” was being low-balled by an additional 20, 000 troops or the administration was planning to send troops into the field without the traditional levels of support they would require, took to the senate floor and issued her most scathing remarks since her initial vote against the IWR. According to Mundy, ”Calling the new strategy deeply disconcerting, Murray said, "The Bush administration is just trying to minimize the number of troops that will be required so we don't question it." A few hours later, Murray took to the Senate floor and denounced the lack of a debate on the war. "I'm not going to let anyone silence me, the troops I speak for, or the constituents I represent," she vowed.”

While some of the folks back home find Murray’s words falling well short of the mark when it comes to leading us out of Iraq, Mundy quotes another member of the Washington State delegation in DC: ”"She has both her own bully pulpit, but also a responsibility to Democrats. She's been taking an important leadership role within the delegation on Iraq," said Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens.”

And, in reminding us that Murray is now speaking as a member of the four person Democratic leadership team in the Senate, Mundy offers this from Dick Durbin; another member of that leadership team:

”Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., says Murray has really found her voice. "She conveys these issues in a way the American people can grasp and care about." He added, "Not like some politicians who are enamored with their own rhetoric." She's being groomed for an important role, he said…” (The end of that line is worth reading the entire column to see)

So, there we have it; another "bi-focal" view from Washington.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 02/07/07
Americans Killed: 3103
Americans Wounded: 23,417
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
"We don't do body counts." General Tommy Franks
.......................................................


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Eric R. Sieger, 18, of Layton, Utah, died Feb. 1 at Buritz, Iraq.

*Sgt. Milton A. Gist Jr., 27, of St. Louis, MO died Jan. 30 at Ramadi, Iraq.

*Sgt. Corey J. Aultz, 31, of Port Orchard, WA (64th Washingtonian) died Jan. 30 at Ramadi, Iraq.

*Pfc. David C. Armstrong, 21, of Zanesville, OH died Feb. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Kenneth T. Butler, 21, of East Liverpool, OH died Feb. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Spc. Alan E. McPeek, 20, of Tucson, AZ died Feb. 2 in Ramadi, Iraq.

*Pvt. Matthew T. Zeimer, 18, of Glendive MT died Feb. 2 in Ramadi, Iraq.

*SSGT Ronnie L. Sanders, 26, of Thibodaux, LA died Feb. 3 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Cpl. Richard O. Quill III, 22, of Roswell, GA died Feb. 1 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Randy J. Matheny, 20, of McCook, NE died Feb. 4 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Capt. Kevin C. Landeck, 26, of Wheaton, IL died Feb. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Terrence D. Dunn, 38, of Houston, TX died Feb. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Honor the Fallen - Stop the Escalation

Portions of this post were originally submitted on Washblog

January, 2007 has been the deadliest month for Washingtonians serving in Iraq since the US invaded that country in March 0f 2003. With the release of the names of seven Washington State service members killed since the start of 2007, the total number of Washingtonians killed in Iraq since the initial invasion stands at 64; 16th highest total of the 50 states. The following Washingtonians have been reported as killed in Iraq in January, 2007:

Corporal Jeremiah Johnson, 23 Vancouver 1/6; Sergeant James D. Riekena, 22 Redmond 1/14; Corporal Darrel J. Morris, 21 Spokane 1/20; Major Alan R. Johnson, 44 Yakima 1/26; Sergeant Mickel D. Garrigus, 24 Elma 1/27; Lance Cpl. Adam Q. Emul, 19 Vancouver 1/29; Sgt. Corey J. Aultz, 31 Port Orchard 1/30. (Morris, Johnson, Garrigus, Emul, and Aultz represent the highest number of Washingtonians killed in a two week period.)

While the Congress of the United States, with its new Democratic majority, debates whether or not they may debate a non-binding resolution expressing the sense of the congress that George W. Bush should not escalate the number of American forces in Iraq, states all over the country are introducing their own resolutions demanding that there be no escalation of troops into Iraq. According to David Sirota, Co-Founder of the Progressive States Network, some 20 states have introduced such resolutions in their legislative bodies. I am pleased to say that Washington State is among those 20.

What is left to be done is for you and I to contact our legislators and request that they work to have the House and Senate Joint Memorials brought before their respective committees for public hearings and then onto the floor of both bodies for votes. In the House, HJM 4004 has been referred to the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee where Rep. Sam Hunt presides as Chair. In the Senate, SJM 8003 has been referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee where Sen. Darlene Fairley sits as Chair.

Make that call. Send that email.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 02/03/07
Americans Killed: 3095
Americans Wounded: 23,279
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Iraqi Dead: Est.: 655,000
http://www.thelancet.com/
We don't do body counts" General Tommy Franks
.......................................................

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Carla J. Stewart, 37, of Sun Valley, CA died Jan. 28 in Tallil, Iraq.

*Capt. Mark T. Resh, 28, of Pittsburgh, PA died Jan 28 in Najaf, Iraq.

*CWO Cornell C. Chao, 36, of Orange City, CA died Jan 28 in Najaf, Iraq.

*Sgt. Mickel D. Garrigus, 24, of Elma, WA (62nd Washingtonian) died Jan. 27 in Taji, Iraq.

*Cpl. Timothy A. Swanson, 21, of San Antonio, TX died Jan 27 in Taji, Iraq.

*Pfc. Jon B. St. John II, 25, of Neenah, WI died Jan 27 in Taji, Iraq.

*Pfc. David T. Toomalatai, 19, of Long Beach, CA died Jan 27 in Taji, Iraq.

*Lance Cpl. Adam Q. Emul, 19, of Vancouver, WA (63rd Washingtonian) died Jan. 29 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Sgt. Alejandro Carrillo, 22, of Los Angeles, CA died Jan. 30 in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

*Hospitalman Matthew G. Conte, 22, of Mogadore, OH died Feb. 1 in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Gunnery Sgt. Terry J. Elliott, 34, of Middleton, TN died Feb. 1 in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

*Sgt. William M. Sigua, 21, of Los Altos Hills, CA died Jan. 31 in Bayji, Iraq.

*Cpl. Stephen D. Shannon, 21, of Guttenberg, Iowa, died Jan. 31, in Balad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Maj. Michael C. Mettille, 44, of West St. Paul, MN died Feb. 1 at Camp Adder, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Bush's Fuzzy Math

On the off chance that there is anyone in the country still sitting on the fence over George W. Bush’s call to escalate the number of Americans in Iraq, here is some important information from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office:

Number of Additional Troops
The President has announced an increase in Army and Marine Corps forces to be deployed to the Iraq theater of operations. Over the next several months, that increase will be accomplished largely by deploying troops sooner than was previously planned and by lengthening the deployment of forces already in the Iraq theater. The increase in force levels has already begun and is expected to reach its peak of about 20,000 additional combat personnel in May.

Thus far, the Department of Defense (DoD) has identified only combat units for deployment. However, U.S. military operations also require substantial support forces, including personnel to staff headquarters, serve as military police, and provide communications, contracting, engineering, intelligence, medical, and other services. Over the past few years, DoD’s practice has been to deploy a total of about 9,500 personnel per combat brigade to the Iraq theater, including about 4,000 combat troops and about 5,500 supporting troops.

DoD has not yet indicated which support units will be deployed along with the added combat forces, or how many additional troops will be involved. Army and DoD officials have indicated that it will be both possible and desirable to deploy fewer additional support units than historical practice would indicate.
CBO expects that, even if the additional brigades required fewer support units than historical practice suggests, those units would still represent a significant additional number of military personnel.

To reflect some of the uncertainty about the number of support troops, CBO developed its estimates on the basis of two alternative assumptions. In one scenario, CBO assumed that additional support troops would be deployed in the same proportion to combat troops that currently exists in Iraq. That approach would require about 28,000 support troops in addition to the 20,000 combat troops—a total of 48,000. CBO also presents an alternative scenario that would include a smaller number of support personnel—about 3,000 per combat brigade—totaling about 15,000 support personnel and bringing the total additional forces to about 35,000. (Emphasis TLS)

So, just to be clear, the number of Americans who will be deployed to Iraq if the Congress does not stop this insanity is 48,000, not 21,500. Just thought you should know.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

China - Missiles and White Wire Reindeer

David Postman has an interesting piece on China’s recent missile test in which they destroyed an orbiting satellite in space. Well, actually, the Postman piece focuses more on current US-China trade relations and one of the central players in that arena, my congressman – Rick Larsen (D WA-2) and the impact a test like this might have on those relations.

Postman highlights the bi-partisan U.S.-China Working Group that Larsen co-Chairs in the US House. According to documents on the group’s website, ”The U.S.-China Working Group believes it is vital for Congress to increase its dialogue and engage a working relationship with the Chinese. The group will host monthly meetings to hear from key business, academic and political leaders about U.S.-China issues ranging from trade and economic policy to space exploration.” Obviously the recent Chinese missile test is just the thing to capture the attention of this group and, according to Postman, ”…Larsen worries that could lead to trouble for U.S.-China trade.”

Considering the growing connection between the Boeing Company (a large portion of which is contained in Larsen’s 2nd CD) and China it’s no wonder Rick gets nervous any time China pulls a stunt like this. Especially when he hears folks like Arizona Republican, (Sen.) Jon Kyl, asking for congressional hearings to determine if any US technology is being used in China’s missile program. Or this gem that Postman found from “anti-freetrader” Ralph Reiland (from an op-ed at The American Spectator)

” Still, we're getting better-than-ever bargains on those white-wire reindeer at Wal-Mart, except it's China that's getting the money. And the Chinese just conducted a satellite-killing missile test, successfully, on Jan. 12. In theory, it's all okay, i.e., economically efficient, unless they nuke us.”

Larsen's U.S.-China Working Group is scheduled to hold a public hearing on China's missile test on Friday. I can't wait to hear what the "key business, academic and political leaders" have to say.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue